Folding carriage.



. 0.11, TURNER. FOLDING CARRIAGE. APPLICATION FILED DEO.19,1907.

29,1908. 3 SHEETS-SHEET `1` Patented Sept.

dd-Zizes v OQNQTURN'ER. FOLDING CARRIAGE.

l APPLICATION-HL@ nno.19,'19o7. n k l '899,851 f v Patented Sept. 29, 1908.'

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lowing is a specihcation.

` operative positions, said locking means being part of this specification, Figure l' represents' 'tions of the lar to Fig. 1, showingl t eroi Noncnoss TURNER, or TEMPLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, Assienon To BAY n einen. I

STATE METAL WHEEL COMPANY,` OF EAST l`llMPLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- GHUSE'FTS.

FLDING CARRIAGE.v

ne. esenti..

Specification. of Lettere Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

Appicatonled ieecmber 19, 1907. icrial No. @iV/,1%.

To all wlmi/t t may cof/terre.'

Be it known that 1', Ona Noncaoss TUR- NER, of Templeton, in the county of Worcester and State el Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Folding Carriages, of which t e fol- This invention relates to baby carriages or erambulators so-cal'led, adapted to be elded into compact form when not in use, and particularly to that class of folding per ambulators in which two Wheel-Acarryin, I frames are hinged to the seat-'supporting frame, each wheel-carrying frame extending lengthwise of the carriage, and bein adapted vwardly from under the tion for use.

The invention has for its object to rovide improved means for locking the whee -carrying frames when they are in their projected or seat frame into posimade operative and inoperative by the same mechanism which .projects and retracts the` wheels. i

The invention also has for its object to provide certain improvements relating to the Wheel-retracting and. projecting mechanism and tov other structural featuresoi the car riage. The invention consists in the improvements which l Will now proceed to describe and claim. Y

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a a sideelevation of `a carriage embodying my invention in its extended position ready for use. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of the carriage adjusted as shown in Fig. 1,/ poru'pper works of the carriage being broken away. Fig. 3 re resents a view simi- 'e carriage. partially folded. Fig. 4 represents a view similar -to Fig. 2, n thecondltlon showing the carria e i represented in Fig.` 3. 5 re resentsla top plan view of the carriage wit 1 the seat and other parts of the upper works removed to show the seat frame and the parts below the same. Fig. 6 represents a rear end elevation showing the carriage folded. Fig. 7 represents aragmentary view illustrating by ful anddotted lines, different' adjustments ofthe carriage. f f

.ria

The same letters el' reference .indicate the same parts in all the iigures.

The seat-supporting frame of my im proved carriag: is preferably composed of ongitudinai side bars 12 and transverse end, bars 13, suitably riveted together to form a rectangular open frame, the side bars. 12 being bent downwardly .at their ends to form ears 14, te which the wheel frames are connected by ivo't bolts 16. Eachjwheel frame is `refer-ab y com osed of two parallel bars 17 aving bent en( s 18 which are overlapped and riveted together, the whole termin an o}pen frame between the side bars of willich t ie upper ortions of the wheels 19 are located.A T is construction ofA the wheel frames is best shownin Fig. 3.

Each of the side bars 17 is providcdiwith 18 of the outer bars of the wheel frames are .extended inwardly far enough to form ears to engage the pivot bolts 16 dotted lines 1n Figs. 2and 'lhedescribcd construction permits the wheel frames to swing inward y under the. seat frame, as indicated in Iigs. 4 and 6, to retract the wheels and fold the carriage. When the wheel frames are projected to make the carre operative, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ent bars 18 of the wheel frames bear against inwardly-bent stop ears bars 23, which are riveted to the downwardlybent ends 14 of .the side bars of the seat frame. IThe ears 22 limit the outward swing as indicated by ing movementsof the wheel frames, and in sure stability when the wheels are fully projected. .The end bars 13 of the seat frame.

are bent upwardly at their ends to form ears, the front cross bar having 'relatively short ears 24, while the rear end bar has longer ears 25. To the ears 25 are pivoted at 26 the side bars 27 of the handle, the latter being referably Composed of a tubular rod er har .rent intoU form, the end portions of the bar forming the side bars 27, while the central )ortion forms a connecting cross bar or nec 2S at vtheupper end of the handle.

29 represents .a seat to the ends of which v are attached lrearwardlyfprojecting arms 30, `and downwardlysprojgecting shorter arms 31,'1 vsaid yarnis 30 and 31 being preferably formed in one piece, which is screwed to the'ends of 22 formed on cross v -ol thv carriage.

the seat. The arms 30 are pivoted at 32 to the side bars of the handle, and thearms 31 are pivoted at 33 to levers 34, which in turn are pivoted at 35 to cars allixed to the. side bars 1'. ot' the seat lranie. The longer upper arms ot' thv levers 34 are connected with the side bars of the handle by links or arms 36.

37 represents a dasher frame having at its ends downwardly-projecting ears 38, which are pivoted at 3f) to the ea1js24 on the iront end hars of thv scat l'rame. 'l`he ears 38 are connected by rods 4t) with the shorter lower arms ol' the levers 254.

The handle is locked in its operative position, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, hy means of toggle links ll 42, which are jointed together at 43, 'one oll said links being jointed to the handle, and the other to the arm 356. When the links are in alineincnt with each otherl as shown in Fig. l, they constitute a brace or strut, which locks the handle, the arms 36, levers 34, rods 4t) and dasher 37 in their operative positions, and prevent the folding When the links are thrown out ol' alinvment. with each other, the handle is tree to swing l'orward and thus cause the folding el the parts connected therewith, as indicated in Fig. I. The forward swinging ol the handle and ol' the levers 34 causes the v seat 2.) to move downwardly toward the seat frame, thv dasher at thv same time swinging hackwardly toward the seat. When the handle reaches the extreme of its l'orward swinging movement, the above-described )arts connected therewith, are conipactly lolded, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The described mechanism for folding the carriage, including the handle 27, has provisions for retracting the wheels. while thel carriage is being folded, and for projecting the wheels when the carriage. is being expanded, and additional provisions for locking or firmly bracing the wheel frames when they are projected, so that the wheels cannot accidentally collapse, and, in fact, cannot be swung inwardly until the handle is swung forward. The said provisions tor bracing or locking the wheel frames is one of the most important features of Inyinvention. As here shown, that part of my invention which relates to the swinging and locking of the wheel frames, is embodied in the construction next described.

44 44 represent U-shaped links, the ends 45 ol" which are pivoted at 46 to the rear end portions ot' the side bars of the wheel frames. To the links or pivote'd ears 144 are pivoted at 47 the lower ends of connecting rodsAS, the upper ends of which are pivoted at 49 to the side bars 27ol" the handle. The links or ears 44 and connecting rods 48 constitute l a double-jointed connection between the liandle and the wheel trames, which is adapted, when the handle is swung forwardly, to swing the wheel frames inwardly under the seat frame. When the handle is in its operative position, the connecting rods tti are at tlje rear ot the handle pivots 26, as shown in Fig. l. As the handle swings forward, the connecting rods are moved across the pivots 26, and as soon as the` handle is inclined toward the iront vnd of the carriage, the connecting rods 48 commence to move downwardly, and thus exert )rvssure on the wheel l'rames through the links A14, tending to swing the wheel trames inwardly, the links swinging on their pivotal connection 47 with the connecting rods. 'l`he described parts are so formed and arranged hat: one wheel l'rainv is swung slightly in advance ot the other, so that the wheels do not interfere with each other in the operation ot folding and unfolding the carriage. When the han die is swung backwardly towardits operative position, the connecting rods 4S and links ll exert an outward pull on the wheel l'rainvs until the wheels are projected.

The. provision l'or bracing or 'locking the wheel frames, which constitutes a very iinportant part of my invention, comprises struts connected at their ends with the wheel frames, and extending across the space bv,- tween thvfsame, said struts heilig adapted to be extended to brace or lock the wheel trames, and contracted to release the saine, and permit. their retraction. These struts, which are best shown in Figs. 2 and 4, are in this embodiment ol my invention, composed oi a central toggle link 5t) and two end toggle links l, which are jointed at 52 to the central link 5t). The end links 5l are jointed at 53 to ears allixed to the hangers 2t) ot the wheel frames. The vnd portions ot' the central link 5t) are curved upwardly, and pro vided with stop studs 54, which bear on the u )per edges ol the end links 5l. when the togis extended, as shown in Fig. 2. When the toggle is injthis position, it' yconstitutes a rigid strut, which prevents movement ot' the wheel frames inwardly towaru vach other. When the central linie 5() is raised, itY breaks or contracts the toggle, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that the wheel trames are l'ree. to swing inwardly toward )each other. rl`wo oi thc described toggles are provided in this instance, one connecting the hangers in which the front wheels are journaled, and the other connecting the hangers which carry the rear wheels. The central links 5t) of the two toggles are connected by a longitudinal rod The means next described are )rovidvd for breaking ,and extending the toggle struts, or, in other wordspraising the central links of the struts, as shown in Fig. 4, and depressing the sante, shown in Fig. 2.

56 represents a cross bar having bent ends 57, which are engaged by the handle )ivots 26, and are adapted to swing on the. latter. The cross bar 56 is connected by a lilik 58 with a lifting lever 6), one end ol' which is @easel pivoted at 60 to an ear 61 allixed to the rear end bar of the seat frame. The other end of the lever 59 is bentl to forman ear 62, which is perforated to receive therodgonnecting the two toggle struts. The ears 57 at the ends of the cross bar 56 are connected by links 63 with the arms 30.

The operation of the described vtogglebreaking and extending mechanism is clearly illustrated by full and dotted lines in Fig. 7, by reference to which it will bc'seen that when the handle is in its operative position, the crossvbar 56 is depressed toward the seat frame, and acts through the link 58 to-correspondingly depress the lever 59., and through t e connecting rod 55, the central links 5() of the tog le struts.- When the handle is swung forward, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig'. 7, the cross bar 56 is raised from the seat frame, and the lever 59 is swung upwardly, thus raisin the connecting rod 55 and the central lins 50 of the toggle stru'ts, and

` breaking the toggle, as indicated in Fig. 4'.

at 73 to the arms 36,-and engaged wit .swung outwardlv to ism in structure, yet there are f collapse as shown When the handle is swung backwardly to its operative position, the cross bar 56, the lever 59, the connecting rod 55 and the central toggle links 50 are again depressed, the togf gles bein thus extended, and caused to lock the wheelframes. The described lookin devices or to gloy struts are contracter or broken to re ease the wheel--frames just before the latter-are swung inwardly to retract the wheels, and are projected to lock the wheel frames just after the latter` have been u their fullest vextent to pro'ect the wheels.

he locking devices or toggle struts are separate from the mechanism which causes the parts of the carria e, including the wheelunfolding. While the parts themselves, thatis the locking devices or'struts, are separate from or independent of the folding mechanconnections including the rod 55 and' lever the locking device is made alternately operative and inoperative through the operation of the folding mechanism.

represents a back which is hinged at 71 to ears on the seat, and is sup orted in its ,operative position by` a bent ro 72 ivotd u1 e rods 74 on the rear side of the' back. g

75 represents a collapsible pocket of flexible material, attached lat its rear edge to the frontend of the seat,"and at its front edge to the dasher 37. The bottom 76 of they pocket c lnstitutes a foot rest whenthe occupant of the carriage is, in ,a sitt' position. The ,iexibilit of the pocket' 75 1s such that it is iii-.Fig 3, by the folding of the carri e.

car ing frames pivot 59, whereby whereby the latter is automatically actuated through the operation of the folding mechan ism, the arrangement being.suchl that when the folding mechanism is 'actuated to retract the wheels and fold the carriage, the locking device is first unlocked to release the wl'ieels,

and the latter are then swung inwardly, and when the reverse" action takes place, the

wheels are first swung outwardly, and the*A locking deviceis then made operative to lock the Wheels. f

It is obvious that my invention may be embodied 4in a carria re .having one'locking device or strut, instea( of two, as here shown, although two locking devices are obvious] preferable. I do not therefore limit mysef 'to the described details of mechanism for accomplishing.; this result, as the same ma be variously' modified without departing rom the s irlt of my invention.

I c aim:

1. In a folding carria e, the combination of a seat frame, lateratl i thereto, folding mec ianism for swinging said frames to rctract and project the wheels, n jointed lock- 'ing device extending acrossA the space between the wheel carrying *ra-'mesor luchtig and releasing the same, the folding mechanf ism being separate from thelocking'device, and connections between the folding mechanism and locking device whereby the latter is vmade alternately operative and ino erative through the operationy of the fo ding mechanism. l

2. In a folding'carria e, the combination of a" seat frame, Iateraly-swinging wheel carrjiing frames pivoted thereto, folding mec anism' for swinging said frames to retract and project the wheels, a strut connecting the wheel frames and adapted to be lengthened and shortened to lock and release the wheel frames, the strut being separate from the folding mechanism, and connections between said folding mechanism and strut whereby the 'latter isautomatically shortened and'lengthened by the operation of the foldin mechanism. i l i l 3. lign a folding carria e, the combination of a seat frame, latera ly-swinging w-leelf vcarrjling.v frames pivoted thereto, folding mec anisrn for sw'ingin said frames to retract and project the w eels, a toggle strut lconnecting the wheel frames, the strut being separate -from the folding mechanism, an

- "connections between said tog le and the I believe myself to-be the lfirst tij/provide I folding mechanism, l whereby t e toggle is connections between the central link and the folding mechanism adapted to raise and depress the central link to break and extend the toggle wliei-i the folding mechanism is operated to retract and project the wheel frames.

5. .ln a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, laterally-swinging wheelcarrving frames pivoted thereto, folding mechanism for swingingsaid frames to retract and project the wheels7 a plurality of locking devices extending across the space between the wheel frames, and adapted to lock and release the latter, the locking devices being separate from the lfolding mechanism, and connections between the folding mechanism and the locking devices, whereby the latter are simultaneously actuated through the operation of the folding mechanism.

(i. .ln a 'folding carriage, the combination of a scat frame, laterally-swingiug'wheelq carrying frames pivoted thereto, folding mechanism for swinging said frames to retract and project the wheels, a plurality of struts connecting the wheel frames, and adapted to be lengtl'iened and shortened to lock and release the wheel frames, said struts being separate from the folding mechanism and connected foiA simultaneous operation, and connections between the folding nicchanism nand struts whereby the latter iii-( simultaneously shortened and lengthened by the operation of the folding mechanism.

7. In a folding carriage, the combination of a .seat frame, laterally-swinging wheeleair ing frames pivoted thereto, folding mec iai'iisin for swinging said frames to rctract and project the wheels, a plurality of toggle, struts connecting the wheel frames, each comprising a central link and two end vlinks, jointed to the central link 4and to the 'wheel frames, a rod connecting the two central links, and connections bctween the said rod and the folding mechanism adapted to raise and. depress the rod and thccentra links to break and extend the toggles when the folding mechanism is operated to retract and project the wheel frames.

t. ,ln a folding carriage, the edinbination of a seat lframe, laterally-swingiiig wheel frames pivoted thereto, the seat frame having outwardly-projeeting stops to limit the outward swinging movement of the wheel frames, a device for locking the wheel frames and holding the same in their projected position against said stops, folding mechanism -for swinging said wheel frames,siiid stops and the seat frame, and jointed connections iv- `otally connected to t ie handle and the w iecl frames, 'adapted to impart swinging movements from the handle to the wheel frames.

l0. ln a folding carriage, the combination of a seat fi'ame,- laterally-swinging wheel frames pivoted thereto, a handle pivoted te the seat frame, U-shaped ears jointed to the wheel frames, and connecting rods joilted to said ears and to the handle, said ears and rods constituting double-jointed connections adapted to impart swinging movements from the handle to the wheel frames.

11. Vln a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, laterally-swinging wheel frames pivoted thereto, a handle pivoted to the seat frame, eoni'iections between the handle and the wheel frames adapted to iinpart swinging niovenii-ints from the handle to the wheel frames, a device for locking and releasing the wheel frames, levers pivoted to the seat frame in advance of the handle, arms jointed to the handle and levers above the seat frame, 'and connections between the locking device and the said handle and arms whereby the locking device is automatically actuated by movements of the handle and arms.

12A. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, laterally-swinging wheel frames pivoted thereto, a handle pivoted to the seat frame, connectionsbetween the han- -dle and the wheel frames, adapted to impart swinging movements from the handle to the wheel frames, a device for locking and re'- leasing the wheel frames, levers pivotcd to the seat frameI in advance of the handle, arms jointed to the handle and levers above-the seat frame, a vertically movable cross bar having ears at its ends 'ointcd to the handle, links jointed to the saidl ears and to the arms, the said cross bar being vertically movable by movements of the handle, levers and arms, and connections between the said cross bar and locking device whereby the latter is actuated by vertical movements of the cross bar.

13. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, laterally-swinging wheel frames pivoted thereto, a handle pivoted to the seat frame, connections between the handle and the wheel frames adapted to impart.

swinging movements from the handle to the wheel frames, toggle struts connecting the wheel frames, a rod connecting said struts,- levers pivoted to the seat frame in advance of the handle, arms jointed to the handle and levers and arms, a lifting lever jointed at one end to the seat frame, and engaged at the other end with the-strut-connecting rod, and a link connecting said lifting lever with the crossbar. i l.

14. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, a pro velling handle pivoted to the rear portion of t e seat frame, a dasher ivoted to the forward ortion of the seat rame,` and connections etween the handle' and ydasher whereb swinging movements .are im arted from t e handle to the dasher.

15. n a folding carriage4 the combination of a seat frame, a propelling handle ypi'voted to the rear portion of t -those of the handle. f-

16. AIn a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, a handle pivoted to the rear portion of the seat frame, levers pivoted to the seat frame in advance of the handle, a

dasher pivoted to the front portion of the seat frame, rods connecting the handle with the upper arms of the-levers, and rods con:- necting the dasher with' the lower arms of the levers, said rods and levers communicating from the handle to the dasher swinging movements in directions opposite to the swinging movements of the handleP 17. In afolding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, a handle pivoted to the rear e seat frame, adasher pivoted to the forward portionof the seatA portion of the seat frame, levers pivoted to the seat -frame in advance of the handle,-a

dasher pivoted to the front portion ofthe seat frame, rods connecting the handlewith the upper arms of the levers, and .a seat sup# ported by said rods above 'the seat frame, and movable toward and from the seat frame by movements of the handle, rods and levers.- f

18. 'In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, a handle pvoted 'to the rear` portion of the seat frame, levers pivoted to the seat frame in a'dvanc'e of the handle, .a

dasherpivoted to the front. portion of the seat frame, rods connecting the handle with the upper arms of the levers, rods connecting the dasher with the-lower arms of the levers, said rods and levers communicating from the handle to the dasher, swinging movements in directions opposite to the swinging movements of the handle, a seat supported by the rods which connect theihan'dle and levers, and a collapsible ocket attached to the seat and dasher, and liaving a bottom forming a foot rest;

19.l Ina folding carria e, the combination of a seat frame, latera ly swinging wheel carrying frames pivoted thereto, a 'ointed brace between said wheelcarrying ames, and connections whereby the brace is automatically actuated lby the folding and unfolding of the carriage.

20. In a folding carriage, the combination of a seat frame, a swinging dasher, and means to automatically swing the dasher to and from its operative position by the-unfolding and folding of the carriage.

Invtestimony whereof I have aillxed my signature, in resence of two witnesses.

O A NORCROSS TURNER. 'Witnesses:

FRANK B. EDGELL, JOHN A. BARNES. 

